Micca Monda Campbell
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love." John 15:9 (NIV)
Is it really possible to live in God's constant presence free from fear and sheltered by His love? Miraculously, it is. Living carefree in the love of God is doable and real.
It's the kind of life that Jesus lived on earth and the life He desires for each of us. "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love" (John 15:9).
I want to experience God's love and grace every day. As believers, our life is meant to be wrapped in God's love, but many of us live in fear and defeat instead. Where is our power and victory? Where is our peace that flows like a river? If you and I are in a love relationship with God, why don't we reflect that?
Many of us are powerless and full of anxieties rather than love because we do not faithfully practice fellowship with God. We simply stand in the shadow of God, but don't draw near. Perhaps we feel confused, abandoned, betrayed, or afraid of God. Or maybe we just stay too busy to draw near. This is not the Lord's desire. He longs to be with us.
To really experience the loving personality and presence of God, we have to spend time with Him. Knowing about God and knowing Him personally are two different things. We can read the Bible and acquire knowledge about God's love, but that doesn't mean we will experience it in an intimate way. Knowing about someone and being involved in a relationship with them are two very different experiences.
Personally, I don't want to simply know about God and His love. I want to share in it. I want to open my heart to God by telling Him about my hurts and my joys. I also want to know what's on His heart too. I desire to hear from Him instead of doing all the talking myself. I want the kind of relationship that Christ had with His Father in heaven while here on earth. And, I can have that through abiding. You can too.
To abide means to stay where you are. Colossians 3:3 tells us exactly where we are to stay. "For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."
That's our position; we are to stay in Christ. We don't just run to Christ when we're scared or desperate. Abiding in Christ means to remain in His presence daily - during every season and through every turn of life.
Abiding takes more than a token prayer, reading a few biblical words, or singing some praise songs on Sunday. Besides, abiding is not about doing more but about seeking God and connecting with Him. Today that connection may be about basking in his unconditional love. Tomorrow, it may be His strength that you relish. Whatever your need may be, you can find it in God's presence daily.
Is it possible to live a life in constant contact with God and His love all day long? It was for Jesus. Therefore, it must be possible for us too.
Dear Lord, how I long to live each day with You—in Your love, power, peace, and strength. Lord, I will stay in this moment with thoughts on You until I experience Your connection with me. Come, Lord, and meet with me today. Teach me to remain with You always. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Related Resources:
Visit Micca’s blog
Taken from An Untroubled Heart: Finding Faith that is Stronger than My Fears by Micca Campbell
Finding Faith that is Stronger than My Fears 3-Message CD set Taught by Micca Campbell
Additional Resources by Micca
Women's Devotional Bible (NIV)
Application Steps:
Carefully read John 15. Ask yourself, who is the vine and who is the vine-keeper? Who is abiding and why? What is the benefit of abiding?
Reflections:
What distractions keep me from having a deeper relationship with God?
Am I willing to make God my first priority every day? If so, how will it change my relationship with Him?
Power Verses:
Deuteronomy 6:5, "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (NIV)
Joshua 23:11, "So be very careful to love the LORD your God." (NIV)
© 2010 by Micca Campbell. All rights reserved.
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love." John 15:9 (NIV)
Is it really possible to live in God's constant presence free from fear and sheltered by His love? Miraculously, it is. Living carefree in the love of God is doable and real.
It's the kind of life that Jesus lived on earth and the life He desires for each of us. "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love" (John 15:9).
I want to experience God's love and grace every day. As believers, our life is meant to be wrapped in God's love, but many of us live in fear and defeat instead. Where is our power and victory? Where is our peace that flows like a river? If you and I are in a love relationship with God, why don't we reflect that?
Many of us are powerless and full of anxieties rather than love because we do not faithfully practice fellowship with God. We simply stand in the shadow of God, but don't draw near. Perhaps we feel confused, abandoned, betrayed, or afraid of God. Or maybe we just stay too busy to draw near. This is not the Lord's desire. He longs to be with us.
To really experience the loving personality and presence of God, we have to spend time with Him. Knowing about God and knowing Him personally are two different things. We can read the Bible and acquire knowledge about God's love, but that doesn't mean we will experience it in an intimate way. Knowing about someone and being involved in a relationship with them are two very different experiences.
Personally, I don't want to simply know about God and His love. I want to share in it. I want to open my heart to God by telling Him about my hurts and my joys. I also want to know what's on His heart too. I desire to hear from Him instead of doing all the talking myself. I want the kind of relationship that Christ had with His Father in heaven while here on earth. And, I can have that through abiding. You can too.
To abide means to stay where you are. Colossians 3:3 tells us exactly where we are to stay. "For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."
That's our position; we are to stay in Christ. We don't just run to Christ when we're scared or desperate. Abiding in Christ means to remain in His presence daily - during every season and through every turn of life.
Abiding takes more than a token prayer, reading a few biblical words, or singing some praise songs on Sunday. Besides, abiding is not about doing more but about seeking God and connecting with Him. Today that connection may be about basking in his unconditional love. Tomorrow, it may be His strength that you relish. Whatever your need may be, you can find it in God's presence daily.
Is it possible to live a life in constant contact with God and His love all day long? It was for Jesus. Therefore, it must be possible for us too.
Dear Lord, how I long to live each day with You—in Your love, power, peace, and strength. Lord, I will stay in this moment with thoughts on You until I experience Your connection with me. Come, Lord, and meet with me today. Teach me to remain with You always. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Related Resources:
Visit Micca’s blog
Taken from An Untroubled Heart: Finding Faith that is Stronger than My Fears by Micca Campbell
Finding Faith that is Stronger than My Fears 3-Message CD set Taught by Micca Campbell
Additional Resources by Micca
Women's Devotional Bible (NIV)
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Application Steps:
Carefully read John 15. Ask yourself, who is the vine and who is the vine-keeper? Who is abiding and why? What is the benefit of abiding?
Reflections:
What distractions keep me from having a deeper relationship with God?
Am I willing to make God my first priority every day? If so, how will it change my relationship with Him?
Power Verses:
Deuteronomy 6:5, "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (NIV)
Joshua 23:11, "So be very careful to love the LORD your God." (NIV)
© 2010 by Micca Campbell. All rights reserved.
Labels: Spiritual Growth, Time with God, Trusting God, Walking in Faith
7 Comments:
Your beautiful and powerful words hit home as if they were written just for me and how I need to walk with God. May I abide DAILY from this day forward. Blessings! Praise the Lord!!
Thank you for this post. It follows a theme I've been pursuing over the last few months. I have seen myself as an outsider, looking in, when I really, totally, want to be full of surrender, abandoned love towards God, and just simply breathe in His presence every minute. Again, Thanks
This comment has been removed by the author.
May I abide in Him everyday! Thanks Micca for the graceful words today...they were a much needed reminder. I need my Jesus and I desire to abide in Him.
Thank you Micca for the devotion! Our God is awesome, he has ways of speaking to us. Relationship with Him is what I heard this morning as I prayed in my morning devotion, and now this! I need to abide in my Lord always. Hallelujah and Glory to God the Father!
CMT
This was definitely meant for me to read today. Amazing how God works through people we don't even know! Thank you!
I really needed this today! I need to remind myself constantly to dewll in God's love constantly..not just on Sunday mornings!
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